Senators Specter and Casey Announce Over $9.4 Million Awarded to Community Health Centers in Pennsylvania from Stimulus Funds

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will allocate $9,448,774 in federal funding to community health centers across Pennsylvania. The funds are enabled by the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“I am pleased that the stimulus funds will benefit Pennsylvania’s community health centers,” said Senator Arlen Specter. “This funding will enable the health centers to expand their services which are so critical for our medically underserved communities.”

“I am happy that these recovery funds are being allocated so quickly to community health centers across Pennsylvania,” Senator Casey said. “Community Health Centers provide invaluable healthcare to 18 million of the most vulnerable American citizens. This funding will assist them in their mission of providing doctors, dentists, mental health counselors and low-cost medicines to underserved communities. Pennsylvania’s Community Health Centers provide care to 600,000 Pennsylvanians, the majority of whom are low-income and uninsured. As we look ahead to health care reform, Community Health Centers are significant community resources and partners.”

"These funds will make possible more primary and preventive care for more people, in Pennsylvania and across the country -- not to mention retained and newly created jobs. Senator Specter and Senator Casey have been great friends of the health center movement and their support has been critical to ensuring that more Americans have access to a medical home," said Dan Hawkins, Senior Vice President for Policy and Programs of the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Recipients will use federal funding to expand services which may include, but are not limited to, adding new providers, expanding hours of operations or expanding services.

A full list of recipients is below. For more information, please visit: http://bphc.hrsa.gov/.